Why are they wrecking their only remaining USP? Nonsensical and stupid decision. Apple doesn't offer iTunes apps for Android and BB10, Google doesn't offer Google Play for iOS and BB10...

I might use BBM on Android now and again, saves me getting a Blackberry, if they think this will improve their sales, they are sadly mistaken. They are just throwing the lifeboats out now...

Well, I guess the reasoning is that with an ever decreasing share, a function that only lets you chat with Blackberry owners becomes of limited use. iMessage/Facetime might go the same way in future...

Well, I guess the reasoning is that with an ever decreasing share, a function that only lets you chat with Blackberry owners becomes of limited use. iMessage/Facetime might go the same way in future...

the facetime protocol is already an open standard i believe (wasn't that the claim at the time of launch).
anyone can integrate it if they want?

Well, I guess the reasoning is that with an ever decreasing share, a function that only lets you chat with Blackberry owners becomes of limited use. iMessage/Facetime might go the same way in future...

Nah, Apple would rather close those services like they did their (flop)Ping message service than make it available on rival platforms.

I guess BB doesn't really have many options at this stage. I've been saying that they're heading the way of Palm for a few years now, and every month this is looking more and more true. They tried to create hype with the Z10 and BB10 launch, but ultimately it failed, with the CEO having to lie about the device being "sold out".

They seem to be on an ever increasing decline, I'm not sure how opening up BBM to Android and iOS will benefit them other than to see non-Blackberry users outnumber actual Blackberry users on their own messaging service. Maybe they are looking for ad revenue?

I guess BB doesn't really have many options at this stage. I've been saying that they're heading the way of Palm for a few years now, and every month this is looking more and more true. They tried to create hype with the Z10 and BB10 launch, but ultimately it failed, with the CEO having to lie about the device being "sold out".

They seem to be on an ever increasing decline, I'm not sure how opening up BBM to Android and iOS will benefit them other than to see non-Blackberry users outnumber actual Blackberry users on their own messaging service. Maybe they are looking for ad revenue?

BB has just kicked it's only leg out from under it self. With this move they have become a software company the Z10 and Q10 just don't compete with current Android phones for the same price. They just ruined there sales figures.

my brother is still on a Blackberry, I think in a large part due to BBM. If he can continue BBMing(?) with friends even after they move away from the platform, he might well stick with them for another upgrade cycle.

Its a competitive market though, with whatsapp doing very well and Google expected to launch their own version/rebrand/integrate existing apps this week.

edit:Yahoo messenger too! Didn't they do a deal with MSN so people could message cross-platform? Hopefully that's where we'll eventually end up again. Really don't want to message some friends on Whats app, some on Facebook, some on Google Talk/Hangouts, some on BBM...

I think RIM have decided there's no money in making phones. They can flog off the manufacturing infrastructure, lay off the vast majority of their workforce and end up making higher profit-on-turnover just on software. Good, I'm sick to death of their shoddy phones. I have to deal with customers' faulty devices, the failure rate is horrendous.

How do they monetise it though?
They're offering it for free, which means increased traffic and running costs with, most likely, little-to-no uplift in hardware sales and no additional revenue to offset that.

They left it too late, if they wanted to cash in on BBM they should've done it before alternatives like WhatsApp became so popular - if they had launched it on iOS/Android 12-18 months ago, they could probably have charged a small subscription or a slightly-larger up-front fee and gotten away with it.
But not now - why would people pay for BBM when they already have WhatsApp?

my brother is still on a Blackberry, I think in a large part due to BBM. If he can continue BBMing(?) with friends even after they move away from the platform, he might well stick with them for another upgrade cycle.

Or he may as well choose a phone he prefers, no longer feeling obliged to choose a Blackberry to be able to use BBM.

I think RIM have decided there's no money in making phones. They can flog off the manufacturing infrastructure, lay off the vast majority of their workforce and end up making higher profit-on-turnover just on software.